2016 CWS Game 12: Coastal Carolina 7 TCU 4

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OMAHA, Neb. – Coastal Carolina out-lasted TCU, 7-4, Saturday night at TD Ameritrade Park to continue its run in its first ever Men’s College World Series and advance to the finals. The Chanticleers relied on seven runs scored between the second and fourth innings, and a quality outing from starting pitcher Alex Cunningham.

Tyler Chadwick put Coastal Carolina (53-17) on the board in the bottom of the second with a home run to right- center. The solo blast was his eighth of the season and put the Chanticleers ahead 1-0.

Evan Young added to Coastal’s lead in the following inning with a two-RBI triple to deep center. TCU centerfielder Dane Steinhagen made a leaping attempt for the fly just shy of the wall, but the ball shook loose of his webbing just before crashing into the wall. Connor Owings and Anthony Marks both came around to score, pushing the Chants’ advantage to 3-0 in the third. Horned Frogs’ starting pitcher Jared Janczak (7-4) exited at the close of the inning after allowing five hits and two walks.

TCU (49-18) got a run back in the top of the fourth thanks to an RBI single from third baseman Elliott Barzilli. The liner to right plated Cam Warner to pull the Frogs within two runs, 3-1.

A Chadwick single and David Parrett double set up two more scoring opportunities for Coastal Carolina in the bottom of the fourth. Marks smoked a single to left, scoring Chadwick, and Zach Remillard laced a single to right to plate Parrett. The series of hits forced TCU to go to the bullpen for the second time on the evening, looking to reliever Ryan Burnett to get the Frogs out of the jam, but Coastal did not let up against the fresh left-hander. Owings doubled down the line in right to bring both Marks and Remillard across to extend the Chanticleers’ lead to 7-1.

The TCU offense manufactured a second run in the top of the sixth to make it a five-run contest. Back-to-back singles by Warner and Evan Skoug brought Luken Baker to the plate with two aboard. The powerful freshman grounded out to second, but Warner was able to sneak home on the play.

TCU shortstop Ryan Merrill made it a 7-3 game in the top of the seventh. The Frogs got to Coastal’s Cunningham (10-4) in the inning with a single and double to set up the Merrill sacrifice fly to right that scored Josh Watson. Cunningham was lifted after the third run for right-hander Bobby Holmes. The reliever entered with one out, and managed to escape the inning, but allowed an inherited runner to cross before the end of the frame. Cunningham ended the night with 6.1 innings under his belt and three strikeouts.

An RBI single from Merrill cut the Chanticleers’ lead to two, 7-5, in the ninth, but Holmes was able to induce a game- ending double play to extinguish the TCU threat.

Coastal Carolina is set to meet Arizona in the first game of the College World Series finals Monday, June 27 at 6 p.m. Central time and will be aired on ESPN. The Chanticleers have been declared the home team for the first contest.